A MUM has thanked a helicopter crew who came to her aid when her toddler suffered a medical emergency.

Maria Ellis's 11-month-old son Oscar gave her a shock when he began having violent convulsions.

After calling an ambulance for help, the North-East Ambulance Service alerted the Great North Air Ambulance who flew the youngster the 20 odd miles from his home in Staithes on the North Yorkshire coast to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital.

There he received treatment and he is now back at home recovering with the rest of his family, seemingly no worse for wear.

Ms Ellis said: “He gave me the fright of my life, but has now fortunately made a full recovery.

“I have to say the air ambulance are just amazing. The crew who helped us were absolutely fantastic and I am grateful they got him to hospital so quickly.”

A spokesman for the charity said it had been happy to help, but re-iterated that that the work of air ambulance air crews is only possible through continued support from the public, whether through fundraising or volunteering their services.

Anyone wishing to get involved should visit the website www.gnaas.com